Track switch for toy railroads



wApril 1938- R. v. PHILLIPS 2,113,768

TRACK SWITCH FOR TOY RAILROADS Filed Oct. 27, 1936 I I VXNVENTOR I6 2O Ray V Phi/lips BY I ATTO R N EY Patented Apr. 12, 1938 that Ray V. Phillips, Brooklyn, N. TL, assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 27, 1936, Serial No. 107,752

Claims.

The present invention relates to track switches for toy railroads, and is more particularly directed toward track switches of the type adapted for use with mechanically propelled trains.

The present invention contemplates that the track switch will have the usual fixed wheel bearing rails arranged parallel to one another to form main line and branch line trackage, and that the switch tongue for directing the wheels of the toy vehicles, along one line or the other, will be pivotally supported in such a position that it can rocked, so as to place one or the other of the rails carried thereon at the level of the fixed wheel bearing rails. The other wheel bearing rail on the tongue will then be at a level low enough to permit the wheel flange to pass by without interference.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one of many embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a track switch for toy railroads.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

In the drawing support is indicated at ill. It carries a long straight fixed wheel bearing rail l l, a short parallel wheel bearing rail I2, a long curved wheel bearing rail l3, and a short curved Wheel bearing rail i i. The rails H and i2 form a portion of themain track, and the rails l3 and M form a portion of the branch track. The rails I2 and l i come together at l5, as is usual in track switches.

The support iii has a hole or opening H3 which extends from adjacent the point I5 to the rails II and I3, where they are parallel with one another. This opening accommodates a switch tongue l1, secured to a shaft Hi. The shaft is mounted in supports I t and 29. The switch tongue ll carries a curved rail, indicated at 2!, and a straight rail, indicated at 22, the rail 2| being parallel with the rail l3, and the rail 22 being parallel with the rail I l. The switch tongue is rockable about the axis of the shaft It, as indicated in the full line and dot-and-dash lines of Figure 3. When the switch tongue is rocked to elevate the rail 2!, it is at the level of the fixed rails and will engage the flange on a wheel to divert the wheel to the branch track. When the switch tongue is shifted to elevate the rail 22, the rail ii is depressed and the train will be directed along the main track.

The switch tongue may be shifted in any convenient manner, for example, by the' link 24 connected to the downwardly bent end 25 of the shaft 58 and to the shift lever 25, pivoted as indicated at 25.

It will be noted that the present type of switch is adapted for manufacture in a very inexpensive way, hence, such track switches can be made available for mechanically operated trains at very low cost.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A track switch for toy railroads comprising a support, a switch tongue having converging rails, a horizontal pivotal mounting for the switch tongue, fixed rails co-operable with the tongue carried rails to provide a through track or a branch track, and means to rock the tongue about the pivotal mounting so that one tongue carried rail is at the elevation of the fixed rails and the other tongue carried rail is below the fixed rails.

2. A track switch such as claimed in claim 1, having a shift lever disposed to one side of the fixed rails and a link connecting the lever and tongue for shifting the tongue.

3. In a track switch for toy railroads, a support, parallel straight and curved rails disposed thereon to form the fixed rails of main and branch lines, and a .switch tongue having converging rails pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis oblique to the opposed straight and curved rails and shiitable to place either rail thereon at the elevation of the fixed rails so that said elevated rail may support and guide a car wheel thereover.

4. In a track switch for toy railroads, a support, parallel straight and curved rails disposed thereon to form the fixed rails of main and branch lines, the support having an opening whose side edges are parallel with the longer of said straight and curved rails, and a switch tongue mounted in said opening and having rails parallel with said longer rails, the tongue being pivoted on an axis extending lengthwise of said opening.

5. In a toy railroad track switch having the usual straight and curved rails to form the fixed rails of main and branch lines, a switch tongue having converging straight and curved rails, and a horizontal pivotal support for the switch tongue, the axis of the pivotal support extending longitudinally of the tongue carried rails and being disposed substantially midway between the rails, whereby one tongue carried rail may be raised and the other lowered to guide a Wheeled truck onto or off from the fixed rails.

RAY V. PHILLIPS. 

